GOLDEN LION Pub of Bexley

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Bexley, April, 2023.

Page Updated:- Sunday, 30 April, 2023.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1731

Golden Lion

Open 2020+

258 Broadway

Bexley Heath

020 8303 4268

https://www.greatukpubs.co.uk/thegoldenlionbexleyheath

https://whatpub.com/golden-lion

Above photo circa 1900 showing the second building of this name being demolished.

Above postcard, circa 1904, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard circa 1921, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, 1925.

Above photo 2006 by Dave Patten Creative Commons Licence.

The original "Golden Lion" opened in 1731 was a coaching inn for the London to Dover run. The premises often housed the local magistrates at their petty sessions, but the building shown above is dated 1901. The original building having been completely destroyed by fire in 1843. The second building of this name was also demolished circa 1900 for the new one to be built.

Close to land on the heath there are several instances recorded of recipients of the said land selling part of their allotments as early as 1816. One man, the landlord of the "Golden Lion," was bankrupt by 1820 after over- reaching himself in speculative buying and selling of
such land.

In 1946 the telephone number was 268.

Morning Advertiser. Wednesday 7 June 1843.

Dreadful configuration at Bexleyheath, Kent.

Yesterday morning Tuesday, about 2:30 o'clock, as one of the mounted police were passing the "Golden Lion Tavern," Bexleyheath, he discovered an unusual light through the front shutters. The officer immediately aroused Mr. Martin, the landlord, and his family, but they were totally unable to escape by the lower part of the premises. An alarm was spread in the neighbourhood, and only a few seconds elapsed before several lodgers and neighbours arrived to the assistance of Mr. Martin and his family, consisting of six in number. By directions given, Mr. Martin dropped his family from the upper floor windows, when fortunately, without sustaining any injury, they were caught by those underneath. By 3 o'clock the whole of the building was one burning mass, and a Norwich Union and Kent fire office engines, from Dartford, had been brought to bear on the flames, but not withstanding every effort, the work of destruction proceeded at an awful rate, and the immense range of stabling next ignited. By 5 o'clock Headacre, the foreman of the District of the London Fire establishment, with four horses, and one of the Southark Bridge Road engines, had reached the scene of destruction, but unfortunately, before the hour of 6, every portion of stock, furniture &c., were destroyed. The loss is estimated at about £700, but believed to be covered by insurance.

From the Kentish Gazette, 13 June 1843.

Alarming Fire at Bexley Heath.

On Tuesday morning a most alarming fire broke out upon the premises well known as the "Golden Lion," Bexley Heath, near Crayford. Flames were discovered issuing from the upper part of the building about half-past two o'clock by one of the mounted police, who instantly gave the alarm, fortunately in time for the preservation of the lives of the inmates, who had but a short time before that hour retired to rest. Mounted expresses were immediately dispatched to the Norwich Union depot and the Kent Fire Office, at Dartford, and to the London Fire Brigade, at their metropolitan station in the Southwark Bridge-road. Before the arrival of the engines, however, the flames had obtained a powerful ascendancy, the interior of the spacious premises exhibiting one mass of fire. A copious supply of water being obtained, the engines from the Kent Fire Office, which were first in attendance, commenced playing upon the burning pile, and by the united exertions of the firemen belonging to three companies the conflagration was subdued by half-past nine o’clock. The building is entirely consumed, and the stock totally destroyed. We hear that the stock alone is insured in the Licensed Victuallers’ Insurance Office for £600; we were not able to ascertain whether the premises were insured. It is not known how the fire originated, but up to the close of the house on Monday evening the members of a benefit society had been celebrating their anniversary.

From the https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk By James Parsons and Jess Bell, 23rd August 2016.

Witness describes moment man with 'massive kitchen knife' burst through The Meze restaurant in Bexleyheath.

A man has been arrested after a fight broke out at a pub in Bexleyheath.

The brawl on Saturday evening started at the Golden Lion pub on the Broadway, before people reportedly fled to The Meze restaurant over the road.

An eyewitness, who was eating with her friends in The Mezze, said: “We heard some screaming coming from the door and then next thing I know there was a massive crash.

“He put his fist through the glass door.

“There were a couple of door men but they couldn’t stop him.

“He went through the back and the next thing I know he was carrying an eight inch blade and his hand was dripping.

“The guy was in a rage and had a massive kitchen knife.

“I want to know what Mezze is going to do to improve security.

“At the end of the day he still managed to get to the kitchen and spray blood everywhere.”

Officers said they were called to a restaurant on the Broadway just after 7.30pm, to reports of a fight.

One man suffered a minor facial injury in the fight.

A man was arrested on suspicion of GBH and taken to a south London police station.

A spokeswoman for the Golden Lion said: "We confirm an incident took place on Saturday evening in the Golden Lion which was quickly dispersed by management and door staff and the culprits removed from the venue.

"There were no weapons used in the incident.

"We understand a fight reignited on the street and a man was arrested by police.”

The Mezze has been contacted for a comment.

Enquiries continue.

From the https://www.newsshopper.co.uk By Pubspy, 24th August 2017.

There were warning signs for Pubspy when he visited the Golden Lion in Bexleyheath - but was he right to be worried?

There are certain warning signs I have always thought one should look out for when choosing somewhere to drink.

Proximity to a train station, the need for a bouncer and, as the Golden Lion in Bexleyheath has, rules on the door.

A sign declaring what could not be worn, including ‘scruffy work gear’, suggests to me this pub may have had some issues in the past.

Feeling the need to set out ground rules before you’ve even made it through the door is hardly promising.

I couldn’t really tell whether this was a chain, and that again is not a great sign. Caught in the middle between independent and conventional, a pub purgatory that works for no-one.

Screens dotted around showed the afternoon kick-off, but it wasn’t packed in the slightest.

However, friendly staff really boosted this boozer in my estimations.

A chap in a striped referee shirt asked us when we thought the final goal would be scored in the match. Pay a pound and the winner gets the pot. I had never heard of this before, and it was a novel way of making a drab game – and dare I say pub – a bit more exciting.

This particular barman remembered our order and asked those words we all like to hear: “Same again?”

The drinks themselves were as standard as it comes. Several interchangeable lagers dotted with a few ciders, the basics for a pub.

A San Miguel and a Fosters came to £7.30, £3.00 for the Fosters which seemed fair enough - £4.30 for a San Miguel is a little harder to take.

Punters seemed happy enough with the Golden Lion. It doesn’t really fit the bill as a chain, but there was no charm that you find in a traditional boozer either. It sits on the spectrum as just about OK.

The staff in there however – and not just the barman who served us, all of them appeared to be as approachable and friendly – stop it from being an altogether forgettable experience.

A DJ started to set up as the game finished and music blared out from the speakers – that was the cue to leave.

I wouldn't say this was the 'golden' lion, more like bronze. I wouldn’t say no to going back, mind.

Staff **** Really did set this pub apart from other, more average boozers. Good service all round.

Drink: *** Average lager choices, nothing really to note. San Miguel is a pleasant addition.

Price: **** The Fosters was cheaper than expected and there were other decent deals.

Atmosphere: *** Empty bearing in mind it was a Saturday afternoon. Maybe it gets busier in the evenings, once the DJ plays them funky tunes.

Overall: ***

From the https://www.newsshopper.co.uk By Jessica Taylor, 25th May 2018.

Police appeal over GBH attack Golden Lion pub on Bexleyheath.

Footage has been released of a fight outside a Bexleyheath pub as police hunt for three men in connection with the incident, which hospitalised the victim.

The reported attack, which police believe amounts to GBH, happened on Sunday, April 1 in the early hours of the morning outside the Golden Lion pub on Bexleyheath Broadway.

A CCTV video shows a brawl on the street, as one man appears to hit a person with a long object. Several other people can be seen trying to break up the incident.

As a result of the reported assault, a victim was left with injuries that required hospital treatment. Police believe the injuries amount to GBH.

Anyone with any information about the incident or the identities of the men sought is urged to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting image references 010058, 010059 and 010060.

LICENSEE LIST

CRAGG William 1832-34+